Updated

A convicted prostitute pleaded guilty Wednesday to state charges that she helped arrange sexual encounters between former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano and her young daughter and niece.

The 31-year-old woman had pleaded guilty to federal charges last week. As part of her plea agreement, she admitted Wednesday in Waterbury Superior Court to charges of conspiracy and risk of injury to a minor.

The woman said nothing in court. But prosecutors revealed details of her statements to authorities, providing a look into the government's case against the Giordano, a three-term mayor and Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2000.

Waterbury's State Attorney John Connelly said Giordano paid the woman about $50 to arrange oral sex with the 9- and 11-year-old girls on about 15 different occasions while he was mayor.

The woman has admitted bringing one or both of the girls to the mayor's office, Giordano's former law office, his former home in Waterbury, a condominium in the city, and his car for sex, Connelley said.

Because the girls had no knowledge of sex, she also showed them what to do, he said.

"She indicated she's a crack addict, she indicated she was addicted to drugs, Connelly said. "She did it for the money."

The Associated Press is not identifying the woman because of her relationship to the sexual assault victims.

Giordano is awaiting trial on federal civil rights charges, one count of conspiracy and 11 counts of using a telephone to entice or solicit the children for sex. He faces life in prison if convicted.

He also faces state charges of sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual assault.

The woman has signed an agreement to cooperate in the federal and state cases against Giordano. Authorities also have videotaped statements from the children, Connelly said.

"The girls did give very explicit statements as to the sexual acts performed on the then-mayor."

The plea agreement and expected cooperation steps up pressure on Giordano, who has been held without bail since his arrest on July 26, 2001.

The woman faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine on the federal charges. She faces up to 10 years in prison on the state charges, but her agreement calls for the sentences to run concurrently. She will be sentenced after the case against Giordano is concluded, Connelly said.

Authorities said Giordano had a long-standing relationship with the woman, which included paying her for sex. Giordano had once represented the woman on prostitution charges, and she has told state child welfare investigators that Giordano is the father of her son.

The woman and Giordano were arrested in July 2001 after she received $200 from him in the mail, prosecutors said.

The FBI learned about the alleged sexual liaisons while using wiretaps at City Hall during a municipal corruption probe.